Davis-Exchange Bank Building
Why it's listed
Rising six stories at the corner of North Washington Street in downtown Albany, this brick building was constructed in 1919-21 to house the Albany Exchange Bank, with offices on the upper floors. Architect J.E.R. Carpenter of New York, a Gold Medal winner of the American Institute of Architects who had studied in Paris, designed it in a commercial Georgian Revival style. Tapestry brick, molded arches over first-floor openings, a modillioned cornice and relief sculpture panels decorate its public sides, over a concrete and steel frame. It was the first building of its style in Albany, and two later hotels followed its example. It was also the city's first skyscraper, replacing the bank's earlier building, which had burned. Besides banking, it housed many local business and professional firms. Citizens and Southern bought the bank in 1929, and the former banking area later became a shoe store. The first floor has been remodeled, but the upper floors keep much of their original character.
Significance in brief: It was the first Georgian Revival commercial building in Albany and set a local precedent, with the most substantial concrete framing in the city at that time. It is also a work of nationally recognized architect J.E.R. Carpenter. Commercially, it was the city's first skyscraper, built to house the Albany Exchange Bank.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84000981, listed February 23, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100-102 N. Washington St., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Dougherty County |
| Listed | February 23, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000981 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1919-21 |
| Architect / builder | J.E.R. Carpenter, Architect |
| Architectural style | Commercial Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in commercial use; the first floor has been remodeled over the years and aluminum windows replaced originals on the second and third floors. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Albany Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.57712, -84.15110 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84000981.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16973322
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.